[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 92 (Thursday, June 5, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H5025-H5029]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COVER THE UNINSURED WEEK
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of
January 18, 2007, the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin) is
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
Ms. BALDWIN. Madam Speaker, I rise tonight one month after our Nation
recognized Cover the Uninsured Week to draw attention to a national
crisis, and that is the crisis of the uninsured. This crisis affects
all Americans, and so for the fifth straight year, I have reserved this
hour to highlight the issue of the uninsured.
Madam Speaker, I believe that all Americans have a right to
affordable and comprehensive health care. But unfortunately, according
to the Census Bureau, 47 million Americans are without health
insurance. Millions more encounter a health care system that is
inadequate in meeting their basic medical needs because they are
underinsured.
According to a recent Commonwealth Foundation study, there are 16
million Americans who are underinsured, meaning their insurance did not
adequately protect them against catastrophic health care expenses. That
means that 63 million Americans, or one-in-five Americans, have either
no health insurance, have only sporadic coverage, or have health
insurance coverage that leaves them exposed to high health care costs.
Additionally, even those with health care coverage are faced with
rising health care costs. As our economy continues to falter and the
price of food and gas rises, high health care costs are straining more
and more family budgets. The lack of affordable comprehensive health
care affects every congressional district in the Nation.
To highlight this issue and the real impact that is being--that being
uninsured has on the lives of Americans, I have reserved this time to
share some of the letters that I have read in my office from
constituents who have had difficulty in obtaining and affording
comprehensive health care coverage.
Too often here in Congress, we speak of health care issues and the
antiseptic jargon of policymakers and lawyers. We talk about Medicare
Part D and insurance risk pools, but people across America are hurting.
And these letters tell their stories in their own words.
I represent a district in south-central Wisconsin, and while the
letters I read may be from Wisconsinites, they speak to the
difficulties that people all over America face every day.
I'm going to start with a few letters about the ever-increasing price
of health care.
Vickie in Beloit, Wisconsin, writes, ``I am a 51-year-old woman, and
was recently in the hospital. I have no insurance and my bill was
almost $22,000. I was unconscious when I was taken there by ambulance,
so I didn't know they were going to run all of these tests which were
going to be the biggest part of my bill. I really have no idea how I'm
going to pay this. I inquired about health insurance about 6 months
ago, and it was over $700 a month.''
Ross in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, writes to me, ``I am 78 years
old. My wife is 82. We have Medicare part A, B, and D and supplemental
insurance. There is so much that is not covered that we spend ALL our
Social Security on medical costs and stuff that Medicare doesn't cover,
like hearing aids and dental bills. If we didn't have some income
besides our Social Security, we would both be in a nursing home, but I
am not sick.''
Michael in Poynette, Wisconsin, writes that ``I am a Federal employee
and a member of the Wisconsin Air National Guard. This past year we
were granted a wage increase of roughly 2.3 percent. At the same time,
the cost of our Federal Employee Health Benefit Plan benefit increased
by up to 44 percent. Along with this, many of the co-pays also
increased. This has put a tremendous strain on my colleagues in the
Wisconsin Air National Guard, many who have been deployed three or more
times in support of operations throughout the Middle East region.''
Ed in Monroe, Wisconsin, writes, ``My wife and I live in the gap.
Between our Social Security and the disability policy she had, we get
too much money to qualify for help, but not enough to really get by.
With the donut hole in Medicare D, we would only be able to get my
wife's meds for three months if it were not for samples provided by her
doctors. Four out of her 10 meds would take 65 percent of our total
income if it were not for the help of that doctor. I live with chronic
pain because of a cancer treatment, but as the years go by, it helps
less and I have other medical problems that are gradually getting
worse. I have a wife and a son that I have to take care of because
neither can do it all for themselves. I am the one who battles with
Social Security and the insurance companies. I have to deal with
problems that arise with their medications, their finances and many
day-to-day things. Every time I hear a politician talk about cutting
Medicare and other programs for the elderly and disabled, it scares me
to death because I am just hanging on by a thread.''
Glen in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, writes, ``My wife and I are
retired and are on Medicare and supplemental insurance with drug
coverage through my former employer. Our monthly cost for both is about
$1,050 a month. With next year's increase, it will take my whole
monthly pension to pay for our health insurance. It's like an
adjustable rate mortgage that only increases.''
Sue in Beloit, Wisconsin, writes, ``My husband was diagnosed with
lung cancer. After treatment began, we found out that the insurance
company had a small loophole for the treatment of cancer. Under our
insurance, they have a $13,000 limit per year on radiation and
chemotherapy. That amount did not even cover the first treatment of
either radiation or chemo. I was not going to have my husband die for
lack of treatment, so we started to use our savings and available
credit to pay for
[[Page H5026]]
medical expenses. My husband later died. After having completely
depleted our savings and facing insurmountable credit card debt, I had
no choice but to file bankruptcy last year.''
{time} 1700
Michelle in Middleton writes: ``My sister had been diagnosed with a
possible brain tumor. She has a job with minimal pay and minimal
insurance. It pays for the first $1,000 of medical costs per year and
then the patient is to pay the next $5,000 before it kicks in again.
She cannot afford this. She has already incurred the $1,000 of cost and
bills are piling up. She has no idea how she will ever pay for all of
the medical care she has needed and the stress is huge. Medical care
should be a right of all. We all pay if prevention and early
intervention don't happen.''
Michelle brings up an important point in her letter because people
without comprehensive health insurance are often not getting the care
that they desperately need. A recent study released by the Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation found that cost prevented 41.1 percent of uninsured
adults from seeing a doctor that they needed to see.
Madam Speaker, I'd like to next focus on the connection between
employment and health care. Only about 40 percent of businesses who
employ low-wage or part-time workers offer health benefits. And at
$11,480 per year, the average family's health insurance premium now
costs more than a minimum-wage worker makes in a whole year.
And as we all know, the costs of health care are rising far faster
than inflation. Between 2000 and 2006, health premiums for employer-
sponsored insurance jumped 87 percent, far outpacing inflation's 18
percent overall increase over the same period of time.
Many of my constituents feel trapped. Either they cannot find jobs
that offer good health care benefits, or they do have jobs that offer
health insurance but they feel that they can't leave those jobs for
fear of losing that health insurance.
Lisa in Beloit, Wisconsin, writes me. She says: ``My husband and I
have been without insurance on and off for the last 8 months. My
husband is diabetic and his insulin can run up to $500 a month, not to
mention all the other medications he takes. Thank God for the VA and
their assistance. So we are managing with his health issues, but I have
not had any well-woman check-ups in a long time because I either had no
insurance or the work I was doing, I couldn't get any time off to go to
a doctor. I have made quite a few job changes in the last year to find
the right fit for me, and I feel that I have finally found one, but my
concern is that why do we have to suffer health-wise? Why do I have to
rely on employers for benefits and be at their mercy, employment-wise,
in order to obtain health care?''
Carolyn from Madison, Wisconsin, writes: ``In 2002, I left my full-
time job to pursue my dream of having my own business. Unable to afford
COBRA, I looked around for affordable insurance with a high deductible.
Imagine my surprise when five companies turned me down because of my
controlled hypertension and 30 pounds overweight. I struggled for over
a year, paying $150 a month for medication at the pharmacy. I developed
extremely painful neuropathy in my feet and was unable to seek medical
treatment for the condition because I had no insurance. So I just
suffered, and I do mean suffered. After more than a year of endless
suffering, I had no choice but to take a part-time job driving a school
bus so that I could get health insurance. Eventually I had to give up
my business because I no longer had the strength or energy to handle a
growing business as well as a part-time job.''
Frank in Madison, Wisconsin, writes: ``I'm a 42-year-old male who has
diabetes. I cannot get private health care coverage due to my illness.
Two years ago, I stepped out of a corporate job to start my own
business to fulfill a dream. I was not prepared for the fact that I
would not be able to purchase a private health care policy for myself,
due to my preexisting condition of diabetes. After 2 years of self-
employment and lack of adequate health care coverage, I have no choice
but to let go of my dream to own my own business and go back to working
for a corporation so I can again receive health care coverage.''
Bonnie in Janesville, Wisconsin, wrote: ``I have, for years, had to
be the one in our household, to maintain health insurance because my
husband is self-employed. I could not take just any job I wanted. It
was so nice when he turned 65 and was able to get Medicare. I was able
to take a job that offered a plan for just singles. Since starting this
job, I have had significant health issues. I have tried to keep working
because I will be unable to find insurance and I can't afford the COBRA
payments. I realize that there are people worse off. But I find it so
difficult some days to have to come to work; if I work part-time, I
would have no insurance to cover my health expenses.''
Madam Speaker, the high cost of health care affects employers as well
as employees.
Greg in Verona, who owns a small business, wrote me recently. He
writes: ``Since 1998, we've been providing health care to our
employees. Every year, we've had double-digit increases in our costs.
This year, the insurance company has informed us that we'll be paying
42 percent more next year, which will lead to one of several
eventualities:
``1. We'll have to reduce what we cover as a benefit for our
employees and hopefully retain them. Reality is, many will leave and
we'll have trouble replacing them.
``2. We'll eat the increase but offer no employee raises for the next
3 years.
``3. We'll raise our prices and force customers to look elsewhere for
the services that we currently provide them.
``The very real possibility is we'll end up with some element of all
of the scenarios and end up not being able to keep the doors open. Very
scary thought when one considers that my business has been around for
55 years.''
Madam Speaker, I also get many letters from constituents who are
nearing 65 but are not yet eligible for Medicare. I'd like to share
some of their stories with you, too.
Daniel in Madison, Wisconsin, writes: ``I am close to 57 and the
combination of my disability and age are making work more difficult all
the time. I have been thinking about retirement, but I found that if I
do retire, I would lose my medical assistance that I count on for my
medical needs. This is due to the fact that I would receive a small
State pension. Pensions are considered unearned income, even though the
pension was part of our compensation for working. One cannot have any
unearned income and receive medical assistance. This seems very unfair.
People with disabilities have a difficult time getting employed if they
need benefits. Now I find it's just as hard to stop working and retain
the needed medical benefits.''
Marilyn in Oregon, Wisconsin, writes: ``Tammy, I am writing you this
e-mail to let you know how frustrated I am with the health insurance
coverage in this country, especially for people over 50. I recently
lost my job. I did not reach my retirement age. I was only 2 years
away. My husband and I have had to use our life savings to pay $700 a
month for health insurance. I just received a letter that the premium
is going to go up next year $60 a month. My only choice is to cancel,
since we have used up almost all of our savings. My husband and I do
not know what to do for health insurance anymore.''
Charlotte in Baraboo, Wisconsin, writes: ``I am 54 years old and work
40 hours a week. A lot of jobs in our area have health care but might
as well not offer any. It is really bad insurance. I know a lot of
people in their 50s that have health problems that make it very hard
for them to continue working, but they have to in order to have
insurance for their health problems. Many of them would like to
retire.''
Madam Speaker, simply put, our health care system is failing and
America knows this. Among the thousands of letters regarding health
care that I receive, there is a common thread, a common theme that
binds them together; and that common theme is an overwhelming
frustration with a system they know just is not working and a call for
those of us in Congress to take action.
Here are some more stories. Michael in Burlington, Wisconsin, writes:
``My late daughter was diagnosed with lymphangiomatosis and Gorham's
vanishing bone disease in March 2005. We
[[Page H5027]]
found out how much a child with a terminal illness costs a person. My
wife and I used every amount of credit and refinanced our house three
times just to take care of her. Since her death, the bills mounted so
bad that now we will have to file bankruptcy and we have already been
foreclosed on our home.
``Secondly, my wife was born with a hole in her heart. In 1972, the
doctors repaired the hole. In doing so, through the blood transfusion
they gave her hepatitis C. Now she is preexisting at 37 and can't get
life insurance and has been repeatedly denied health care coverage. Her
mental breakdown because of the death of our daughter left the
insurance companies another reason not to let her have health care.
This needs to change.''
Sherry in Lake Delton, Wisconsin, writes: ``I live in a place where
most jobs are low quality and low paying and don't offer health
insurance benefits. I have had jobs on occasion that have offered
insurance, but they have never lasted due to the fact that this area
prefers to believe that you are not entitled to a life if you work
here. In 1995, I gave birth to my first and only child. In my quest to
find employment that would allow me to afford raising my child and pay
enough for me to support her without working 18 hours a day, I met my
future husband. I was employed when I sustained a work injury that went
through on workman's comp. I was left with an injury that was never
addressed and bills that workman's comp refused to pay. This injury has
prevented me from even applying for better jobs, as the physical pain
prevents me from performing many tasks that I have done in the past. My
inability to bring a decent income to our home has created major stress
on my husband. My marriage is falling apart daily due to health
problems and my inability to support my husband. I tried to apply for
Badger Care, Wisconsin's Medicaid program, and was told that we
slightly exceeded the limits for a family of three, but if I was
willing to leave my marriage and my home, that they would be more than
happy to give me everything that was available. This just doesn't make
any sense.''
Cindy from Fitchburg, Wisconsin, writes: ``I was in a motorcycle
accident in Wyoming in 2004. The driver lost control on a gravel road.
I ended up on the bottom of a mountain. I was found unconscious and
covered in blood. Unfortunately, the people I was with didn't take me
to a hospital. It wasn't until I was driven back to Wisconsin that I
was taken to a hospital. When I did go to the hospital, doctors told me
I should have died.
``My company where I worked had been sold just prior to this trip to
Wyoming. I was supposed to start a new job when I returned. During that
transition, I had just a few months without health insurance. I could
not afford COBRA at $426 a month along with rent.
``The ER in Wisconsin did a CAT scan and recommended that I follow up
with my doctor. At this point, I had problems talking, walking, and was
in a great deal of pain. I had to give up my apartment and move in with
a friend. I was able to continue my health care with COBRA paying for
it with my unemployment. But once my unemployment ended so did my
ability to pay for health insurance. My savings and 401(k) are all
gone.
``My condition worsened without medical treatment. I had tried to get
medical assistance, but was refused because I have no dependents and
have not been diagnosed as terminal. I had applied for SSDI, which now
takes 2 to 3 years for approval.
``I have been left with no income, unable to work, no insurance, and
no home. The doctors told me that it may be possible for me to work
again, if I can resume my medical treatments. As of now, I have no
chance.
{time} 1715
``With private health insurance or universal health care, I may have
been taken to the hospital the night of the accident instead of being
left to die. I would have gotten the treatment needed to prevent my
brain from swelling, which caused further damage I may not have had
today.
``If there were a mandatory law that people had to carry vehicle
insurance, it might have also helped. If SSDI didn't have a 2 or 3-year
waiting list, I may be able to get the health care and finances now for
me to get better and return to work. If there were some dollars set
aside for people without insurance, would my GP have helped?
``This can happen to anyone at any time. I was a homeowner, I had a
professional career, and now I'm left without any help. I thought the
United States was the richest Nation in the world. How can a human
being be discarded?''
Julie from Beloit, Wisconsin writes, ``I was just notified that my
insurance company will be raising my house insurance by nearly $100 per
year solely based on my credit report. Eight years ago, I had a
sterling credit report; in fact, I was able to get a very low interest
loan for the house that I bought because of it. Five years ago, I had a
medical emergency which caused me to default on two credit cards and to
create medical bills I have no hope of ever repaying. I had the choice
between buying bandages and ointments, which are not covered by my
insurance, for my legs or making my monthly credit card payments. I
chose life. For as my doctors told me, I would have eventually lost my
legs, if not my life, if I had not sought treatment.
``I know it's legal for insurance companies to do this just as it is
legal for businesses to do a credit report on potential employees, but
that doesn't mean it's right. I can see the point, to some extent, if
poor credit rating were caused by irresponsibility. What I do not get
is why people whose sole financial error was to have a health care
crisis should be penalized for it.
``It does not take a rocket scientist to see that this will affect
the poor, the elderly, and the disabled the most, who are often already
either underinsured or uninsured. As for me, I will have to raise my
deductible substantially and seriously consider filing for bankruptcy
in the hopes of eventually improving my credit rating.''
Eva from Madison, Wisconsin writes, ``I am contacting you in regards
to my desperate need for public health care. I am a grad student. I
recently sprained my ankle playing soccer and had to go to the
emergency room for x-rays. My bill came out to $1,242.50 because I can
only afford a measly insurance that has only catastrophic coverage.
This is a ridiculous amount of money for such a visit, and it causes me
to consider those less fortunate than me who have even more serious
injuries and less familial support. This cost can truly make waves in
the lives of people.''
Suzanne from Stoughton, Wisconsin writes, ``It is time to have the
government deal with health care. We are covered under COBRA, which
will run out in March. The cost is going from $500 per month to $900
per month. We checked with Blue Cross, and they refused us coverage
because of a preexisting condition. They will not even offer a waiver
for this preexisting condition. We checked with the Wisconsin State
Insurance Program, which will cover us for $1,200 a month. Please let
people over 60 buy into Medicare. It is impossible to find a job that
offers health insurance.''
Silvia from Fitchburg, Wisconsin shared her story with me. Silvia was
uninsured when she was hospitalized with the need for an appendectomy.
Even after the hospital charity program reduced her bill, she still
owed over $11,000 to the hospital. Sometimes bill collectors call her
at home five times per day. Silvia chips away at the bills, sending $20
or $50 a month.
Roberta from Janesville, Wisconsin writes, ``I think the insurance
bills for both medical and dental are horrendous. Both my husband and I
work full-time with two small children, living paycheck to paycheck. My
insurance costs have caused us many heartaches, with us owing more
money than what needs to be paid. As a result, I will not get a needed
medical procedure done.
``Something drastically needs to change in the United States of
America where hardworking individuals and families can get the
treatment they need without going broke.''
Patricia from Madison, Wisconsin writes, ``We need to fix health
care. I have to choose between food, heat and medications. I have lost
80 pounds because of this. Please help.''
Heather from Waterloo, Wisconsin writes, ``I am married. And together
with my husband I own a home. We live a modest, middle class life,
managing to always have what we need, except
[[Page H5028]]
health care. My husband has excellent health care at his job, but for
me to also be covered by his plan we would need to pay nearly $400 per
month. That is two-thirds as much as our home mortgage.
``Through school, I have worked less and less in order to maintain
health coverage. I have only been able to afford short-term major
medical coverage. I am grateful that we can afford this, but it does
make a difference. Even now, if I have a sore throat, I will wait a few
days to see how I feel. I will wait because if I don't need to go, I
certainly need to save the money. This is disturbing to me as a nursing
student because I know the importance of early treatment and
prevention. And it's upsetting to me as a person because I value my
health. It's unacceptable to me as a citizen because I know there are
other people just like me who wait and get sicker or can't take the
medications that they need.''
Brad from Mount Horeb, Wisconsin writes me, ``I write you today to
urge you to take action on a growing crisis in America, health care. I
strongly believe that we need a national health care plan to insure all
Americans.
``My major concern with the current system is when people attempt to
obtain health insurance, insurance companies refuse them because of
past health history. Let's face it, insurance companies are in business
to make a profit. The best way to make a profit is to ensure the
healthy so that you can minimize the claims you pay out, and not insure
those who need medical care or who may potentially need medical care.
``I am 38 years old with a family of four. I currently participate in
a health savings account. For all practical purposes, I pay for all of
my own medical needs, including the recent birth of our daughter.
``I recently attempted to switch insurance providers. The insurance
companies will insure me, but they will not insure my daughter for any
type of treatment for her asthma for 3 years, along with no drug
coverage for life. The policy I was requesting had a $10,000
deductible, yet they still refused coverage.''
Lisa from Madison writes, ``I'm a very healthy person, and my husband
and children are very healthy. We cannot get insurance. I think
everyone should attempt to get an individual health insurance policy
just to see how impossible it is. I'm not a risk, really, I am not. I
am terrified right now because we are uninsured.''
Carol from Madison, Wisconsin writes, ``As someone who has had no
health insurance at all for 3 years, I can tell you that it was pretty
miserable being one of the millions of people in this country without
health insurance. Not long ago, my best friend died at age 42 because
of ovarian cancer because she did not have health insurance and waited
too long to see what was causing all of her symptoms. Yes, people in
America actually die from not having health insurance.''
Darla from Fitchburg, Wisconsin wrote, ``I lost my job because of
unpredictable attendance due to my health issues. Upon losing my job, I
signed up for COBRA. Last week I received a letter indicating my COBRA
eligibility ends soon. In order for me to get health coverage, I would
have to work at least 20 hours per week. My physicians believe that
would do me more harm than good relating to my health issues.
``If I do not get some kind of health insurance, I will need to stop
all treatments, and I have no money to pay for doctor services. My
prescription drugs will have to stop, as I will not be able to pay for
them either. What can I do?''
Kimberly from Madison writes, ``I'm writing today because of my
family's frustration and anxiety over health care. Although we hear a
lot of rhetoric about making health care more affordable and/or more
available for Americans, nothing is happening, at least not soon
enough.
``My husband recently started his own business. Obviously it will
take some time for his company to see any profits, much less income. In
the meantime, we are without health insurance. I am 5 months pregnant,
and we have a 2-year-old son. Because of my preexisting condition, we
cannot buy affordable health coverage. COBRA would cost us $1,200 per
month. I am currently applying for Medicaid and other forms of public
assistance as a last resort. This is ridiculous.
``As someone with no insurance, I wonder what could possibly be the
problem with implementing a public health care system. Oh, I have heard
the horror stories about having fewer choices in doctors, longer
waiting lists for procedures, and less incentive among doctors and
researchers to develop new techniques. But what's most frightening to
me is the chance that my son might get sick or my baby might be born
with expensive complications while we are uninsured.
``I am not naive. I know that funding public health care is an issue.
But is it wise to sacrifice the health and well-being of American
citizens to avoid the challenge of implementing a change? I, for one,
would be satisfied to pay more for goods and services if I could rest
assured that my family's basic health care needs were being met.''
David from Cross Plains, Wisconsin writes, ``My wife and I have been
self-employed for over 18 years and have paid thousands of dollars for
health insurance premiums. As of a few months ago, we had to drop out
and are now without health insurance. The cost is completely out of
reach; in fact, it's nuts. Now that I am 50 years old, it's not a
matter of if I will ever have health problems, it's when. Tammy, we
will lose everything we have ever worked for. So much for the American
Dream. Now we look forward to dying broke and possibly homeless.''
Victor from Stoughton, Wisconsin writes, ``My wife can only work
part-time because of her health. Her employer offers a generic policy
that costs $3.97 a week and requires no background check. This policy
covers basically nothing. Medical supplies, check-ups, doctors visits
necessary on a routine basis for my wife to survive are now not
covered. My wife is uninsurable because of her health, and we have been
turned down for health insurance that we have applied for. We cannot
believe that this is happening to us.''
Ronald from Deerfield, Wisconsin writes, ``I was on COBRA insurance
for 3 years, which ended this past fall. I spent from March until
September trying to get private insurance, but could not because of my
neck injury. I was, in effect, looked at and dismissed by 33 private
insurance companies because of my preexisting condition with my neck
injury. Just imagine how you would feel after being dismissed by this
many companies. I was finally insured through disability and Medicare.
The sad reality of it is that if I want to try to work full-time again,
I cannot, because in doing so, it would cost me the only insurance
option I have left.
``The truth is that many other countries can and do provide equitable
health insurance to all of their citizens no matter what preexisting
conditions they have or their ability to pay or what income level they
have. I believe this country does have top-notch medical facilities,
but not decent or equitable insurance for poor and middle-income
families.''
{time} 1730
Susan, from Baraboo, Wisconsin, writes, ``I'm writing you today
regarding health insurance coverage for single people with no children.
As of this time, I feel that I am left out of the loop in regards to
this topic. I am 42, and last September, I was diagnosed with breast
cancer. In January of this year, the company that I worked for informed
us that they would be closing down. I was laid off in December while I
was out due to my cancer treatments. I have been searching for health
care everywhere because my COBRA will be going up, and I am on
unemployment and am barely able to pay the $244.76 for the coverage
now. I cannot get insurance because of the breast cancer. The high-risk
insurance program in Wisconsin is too expensive for me to get coverage
since they want 4 months of premiums up front, and they only cover some
things. What are single people supposed to do? We don't qualify for any
government assistance because we are single. We cannot go without
insurance. There are no programs to help us out. So, when you are
working on health care in the House of Representatives, please remember
that there are other single people out there also in my shoes. I am at
a crossroad because I have no avenue for assistance when it comes to
health care. Come November, I will be unable to get coverage when I
need it at this point in my life.''
Janet from Portage, Wisconsin writes, ``I have a 53-year-old brother
[[Page H5029]]
who has psoriasis all over his body and arthritis that is caused by
this. Three weeks ago, he fell and needs surgery on his shoulder to
repair it. He has no job, no money and no insurance. We started looking
for a program to help him. There are none that we can find. There is
nothing to help him get his shoulder fixed, but after it heals wrong
and he is disabled because of it, then there are programs to help him.
They will not help get it fixed so he could find a good job. Instead,
they would rather support him for the rest of his life instead of
trying to help him now.''
Gail from Janesville writes, ``My husband recently lost his job. He
applied for over 100 positions only to be told that he lacked a college
degree or he is overqualified or they can only pay $8 an hour. I was
diagnosed with breast cancer in June of 1998 and again in 2003. I have
gone through breast cancer twice and have undergone a mastectomy and
reconstructive surgery. COBRA has run out, and without a stable income,
we cannot afford to pay the premiums of our own health care policy. My
husband is 59 years old, and I am 58, and we have no medical coverage.
I have looked at every insurance company and get turned down because of
my medical history. All our lives we have paid into these insurance
companies only to be turned away when we need coverage the most.''
Lastly, Madam Speaker, I want to relay a story that was shared with
me by Laurie, a fourth grade teacher in Madison, Wisconsin. Laurie
recently had a student fall during recess and break his foot. Laurie
writes me.
``As he was waiting in extreme pain and cold for the school nurse to
get to him, he cried to an assistant, waiting with him, `I can't go to
the doctor. We don't have insurance.''' That a 9- or 10-year-old child
should even think something like this is an atrocity.
Madam Speaker, I hope that my colleagues will join me in recognizing
that obtaining comprehensive, affordable health care presents a very
real challenge for millions and millions of Americans. We can not turn
a deaf ear on our constituents' pleas for help. I invite my colleagues
to join me in working on this most pressing domestic priority--to
provide quality, affordable health care for all Americans.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. I yield back my remaining time.
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